Collapsible funnel



S. S. COWELL.

COLLAPSIBLE FUNNEL.

APPLICATION mm JULY f3. 1921.

1 ,408,865 v Patented Mar, 7, 1922.

unrrso stares SELDEN S. COWELL, OF HUNTSDALE, PENNSYLVANIA. V

COLLAPSIBLE FUN N EL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. *7, 1922.

Application filed. July 13, 1921. Serial No. 484,332.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SnLnnN' S. CownLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntsdale, in the county of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a C0llapsible Funnel, of which the following is a specification. V i

This invention relates to funnels and more particularly to a collapsible funnel adapted to be arranged in the radiator opening of an automobile whereby water may be poured into the radiator when the funnel is opened.

()ne of the objects of the invention is to provide a collapsible funnel of this character which will fit at all times in the radiator and be arranged in a manner that will permit it to be opened and disposed above the radiator opening when the funnel is to be used.

Other objects of the invention will appear upon consideration of the following detail description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the funnel constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the funnel tube showing the funnel folded or collapsed within the tube, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the funnel showing the interior construction thereof.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the cylindrical tube 1 may be of any desired length and has its lower open end 2 slightly turned inwardly to form an annular flange 3. The upper or opposite end of the tube may be flared outwardly if desired and the tube is intended to be fitted inthe opening of the radiator of an automobile and held in position therein in any desired manner;

The collapsible body of the funnel in cludes a cylindrical sleeve 4 to which a plurality of spring arms 5 are attached. Each spring includes an attaching finger 6 which is fastened to the sleeve 4 and a coil spring 7 from which projects the elongated spring arm 8. Any number of these spring members may be arranged around the sleeve 4 and they support the flexible funnel body 9 which consists of canvas or any other suitable material which may be folded in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The springs 7 act to normally extend the spring arms outwardly at an angle. The lower end of the cloth body 9 of the funnel is secured to the sleeve in any preferred manner in the present nstance the fastening being indicated by a binding wire 10. The upper marginal edge of the funnel body is provided with a marginal hem 11 to which is fastened the upper end of the spring arm 8. When the funnel is not in use, the same will be thrust downwardly in the tubular member 1 as shown in Fig. 2- until the sleeve member 4 engages'the annular flange 3, the cloth body of the funnelfolding into the tube as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the usual radiator cap may be mounted in position on the radiator thus covering the upper end of the folded funnel. When the funnel is to be used, the radiator cap will be removed and the funnel drawn upwardly out of the tube 1 whereupon the springs will automatically act to "throw the spring arms 8 outwardly so that the funnel will form the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing and permit the operator to pour water into the funnel so that it will be conducted into the radiator.

Minor changes may be made in the details ofco-nstruction without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

What is claimed is:-

A collapsible funnel comprising an elongated tube, a sleeve slidablc in the tube a tlexiblc funnel body of cloth material having its tapered end connected with said sleeve, and spring ribs secured to and extending the length of said funnel body having their lower terminals secured between the sleeve and the cloth of the body, said ribs having coil springs adjacent the jointure of the funnel body with said sleeve. whereby the former will be moved to a flared or open position when withdrawn from said tube.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. v SELDEN S. COWELL. Witnesses:

Janus W. ECKELS, SAMUEL HUA'I'I. 

